News Release

For Immediate Release                                        

Contact:     

Danielle LeCompte Zaleski
American Lung Association of Arizona
(520) 323-1812  

Beth Gorman
Pima County Department of Environmental Quality
(520) 740-3340

Tucson, Arizona (July 18, 2005)

Ozone Pollution Advisory

The American Lung Association of Arizona and Pima County Department of Environmental Quality are issuing an advisory for ground-level ozone air pollution. Two Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) monitoring sites, Saguaro National Park East and Craycroft and 22nd Street, have recorded ozone pollution levels in the range where individuals who are especially sensitive to air pollution may experience shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation, wheezing and breathing discomfort. It is possible that ozone levels may be elevated tomorrow afternoon if conditions are similar.

If you are especially sensitive to ozone, you may want to limit your level of exertion outside between noon and 5:00 p.m. when elevated levels of ozone pollution are more likely to occur. For example, walking instead of running for exercise. Intense physical outdoor activity causes faster and deeper breathing, which allows ozone to penetrate into the parts of the lungs that are more likely to be injured.

Those who are most likely to be sensitive to ozone include children, adults who are active outdoors, people with respiratory diseases, and certain individuals who have an unusually sensitivity to this particular pollutant. Those people who are feeling symptoms should seek medical attention, if necessary.

Actions to reduce the production of ground level ozone:

• Reduce driving - combine errands into one trip.

• Ride the bus, walk or share a ride with friends and family.

• Re-fuel your car after 6:00 p.m. when the fumes are less likely to form ozone.

• Never top off your gas tank when re-fueling and stop at the click.

• Make sure your gas cap is tightly sealed after re-fueling.

• Avoid using gas powered lawn and gardening equipment.

The American Lung Association of Arizona (ALAA) and Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) are working together to educate Pima County residents about potential health effects associated with elevated levels of air pollution and to promote actions to reduce air pollution levels. 

Air pollution information is available online at the PDEQ website www.airinfonow.org or through the PDEQ telephone hotline at (520) 882-4AIR. PDEQ staff can be reached at (520) 740-3343.

Contact the ALAA at (520) 323-1812 or www.lungaz.org.

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